Learning how to greet people is one of the first steps in mastering any language. In Finnish culture, greetings are polite and often straightforward. Here are some basic Finnish greetings to help you say hello, goodbye, and start conversations with confidence.
👋 Common Finnish Greetings
| Finnish | English Translation | Notes / Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Hei | Hi / Hello | Most common, casual and polite |
| Moi | Hi | Very casual, friendly |
| Terve | Hello | Slightly more formal than "Moi" |
| Hyvää huomenta | Good morning | Used before noon |
| Hyvää päivää | Good day / Good afternoon | Formal, used during the day |
| Hyvää iltaa | Good evening | Used in the evening |
| Hei hei | Bye bye | Casual farewell |
| Näkemiin | Goodbye | Formal goodbye |
| Moikka | Bye | Friendly, informal |
| Nähdään | See you | Casual and common |
| Hauska tutustua | Nice to meet you | Literally: "Pleasure to get to know" |
| Mitä kuuluu? | How are you? | Informal and polite |
| Hyvin, kiitos | I’m fine, thank you | Typical response |
Conversation 1: Greetings a Person
Anna: Hei! Hyvää huomenta!(Hi! Good morning!)
Mikko: Huomenta! Miten voit?
(Morning! How are you?)
Anna: Hyvin, kiitos! Entä sinä?
(Good, thank you! And you?)
Mikko: Ihan hyvin.
(Quite well.)
Anna: Kiva kuulla!
(Nice to hear!)
Conversation 2: Greeting a Stranger
Laura: Hei! Olen Laura. Hauska tutustua!
(Hi! I’m Laura. Nice to meet you!)
Timo: Moi! Minä olen Timo. Hauska tutustua myös!
(Hi! I’m Timo. Nice to meet you too!)
Laura: Oletko uusi täällä?
(Are you new here?)
Timo: Kyllä, muutin tänne viime viikolla.
(Yes, I moved here last week.)
Laura: Tervetuloa!
(Welcome!)
Conversation 3: Introducing Yourself (Informal)
Anna: Hei! Mun nimi on Anna. Entä sun?
(Hi! My name is Anna. And yours?)
Mikael: Moi Anna! Mä oon Mikael.
(Hi Anna! I’m Mikael.)
Anna: Hauska tutustua, Mikael.
(Nice to meet you, Mikael.)
Mikael: Samoin!
(Likewise!)
Conversation 4: Introducing Yourself (Formal)
Sari: Hyvää päivää. Nimeni on Sari Korhonen.
(Good day. My name is Sari Korhonen.)
Jari: Hyvää päivää. Olen Jari Nieminen. Hauska tutustua.
(Good day. I’m Jari Nieminen. Nice to meet you.)
Sari: Hauska tutustua, herra Nieminen.
(Nice to meet you, Mr. Nieminen.)
📝 Tips:
- “Hei” and “Moi” are safe to use in almost all situations.
- Finnish people appreciate it when foreigners greet them in Finnish — even just a simple “Moi!”
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